Method of producing sound-records.



V. H. EMERSON.

METHOD OF PRODUCING SOUND RECORDS.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. 1915.

1 7 1,68%. Patented July 9, 1918.

W/TNE88E8: IIVI/ENTOR Fmersan i BY snares rarnur VICTOR HUGO EMERSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGN OR TO EMERSON PHONOGRA PH 00., INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF PRODUCING SOUND-RECORDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Application filed June 19, 1915. Serial No. 34,990

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VICTOR HUGO EMER- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Producing Sound-Records, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of.

the same.

My invention relates to the production of sound records and has for an object to provide an improved method whereby more efficient and accurate rcgistratlon of sound v1- cutting edges. Likewise numerous methods have been resorted to for softening the material while being operated upon, in the effort to obtain a record having undulations accurately corresponding in amplitude and frequency to the sonorous' vibrations to be recorded thereby. This softening process has been accomplished in different ways, some applying heat to the record blank immediately-in advance of the stylus, andI am aware that an attempt to accomplish the same result by applying moderate heat to the stylus "itself, has been made. However, none of the means or processes used for the purpose indicated, as I am aware,

has succeeded in eliminating entirely the frictional resistance referred to.- This I have accomplished completely, and in attaining to the desired end in practising my I present invention, I employ a high degree of heat, applied to the so-called cutting stylus while it operates upon a record blank of some suitable material, preferably a hard volatile composition such as Xylonite, or as it is more familiarly known in the arts,

commercial celluloid.

The precise degree of heat necessary is easily determined by the operator having reference to the character of the medium operated upon, it being deemed necessary in .various forms only to specify that the needle accomplishes the work best for most substances when brought to a red glow or to incandescence. When the stylus is made of platinum the nature of the metal is such as to withstand the oxidizing effects of the higher tempera tures and in that case the incandescence can easily be maintained with satisfactory results. Therefore, with the stylus heated to the extent indicated, the work of removing the waste material by volatililzation or sublimation, or by the two processes conjointly, is entirely performed by the thermal energy transmitted through the needle point and is accomplished practically instantaneously, so'that the vibratory action of the stylus along the surface of the record blank is absolutely free and untrammele d.

In using my process any convenient means Or method for heating the stylus may be employed in producing the required degrees of thermal force, I have found that an electric'current passing through a high resisting coil wound about the body of the needle immediately above the point thereof,-

but insulated from the stylus bar, is highly convenient to use in connection with the improved process of my invention, the stylus itself preferably being'made of some Well known metal possessing a high fusion point, such for example as platinum, iridium and others of the platinum'class.

It is obvious that in having the needle thus heated to a sufiicient degree when being depressed into the substance of the record blank, it will consume or volatilize the portion with which it comes into immediate contact, as pointed'out, and continue thus to transform the material of the record blank, thereby tracing a groove therein as the latter is drawn across the point of the needle, making in the process a clean-cut groove, that is, one thesurfa'ce edges of which are free from burs or bulged portions to interfere with thesubsequent uses to which the record is usually adapted.

Various suitable materials ma be used for the record blank, as indicate the temerature of the recording needle in each eing brought to the degree of heat required for burning out or volatilizing the particu- *lar substance to which it pertains at the required speed at which it is fed-to the needle. In connection with the records commonly in use it willbe necessary to use a stylus having a relatively fine point and 3'0 an electric conductor of high resistan'ce,3,

in such case the more readily the substance tures, firstly, the use of a needle of suitable material such as platinum, irridium or similar metal, heated to a high point preferably by application of electricity in theusual manner in which the electric force is converted into heat; and secondly, suitable material for pyrographic action, preferably a hard volatile material such as xylonite.

The accompanying drawing shows in eleresistance coil and in process of forming a record groove in a disk blank.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,

the numeral 1 represents the stylus which is preferably made of a metal possessing a high fusible'point, around which is wound separated from the needle by the insulating bushing f and having in connection therewith the battery cells 5 to supply the :electhe disk of the tric current which of course may be from' any source of electric energy.

The stylus 1 is shown in the illustration in connection-with the arm 2 in partial view as part of a sound recording device, not shown, which may be any of the familiar types now used. In the illustration the zigzag form of undulatory sound groove 7 is represented in connection with my process. It is obvious, however, that equally satisfactory results are attainable by the use of thevertically operated type of stylus.

The materlal which I use for the record blank '6. as a preferred form of chemical composition which has been referred to above, is xylonite, or, as 'itis commercially known, celluloid, and I also preferably use flat type as shown, which as it rotates receives the sound .groove'in the familiar spiral or involute form. 1 I

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The herein described method of producing a sound-recordin a solid volatile material by volatilizing portions thereof to 1 form an undulatory groove therein, wherein the material removed in. forming the I groove is entirely removed by volatilization.

. removed by volatil zation. vation a partial view of a sound recording instrument with its stylus surrounded by a operated thermal stylus paring a blank of volatile material, and

burning therein a're'cord groove by means of .a suitable thermal stylus, wherein the material removed in forming the groove is en-' tirely removed by volatilization. I I 4;. The herein described method of producing a sound record which consists of preparing a blank of volatile material and burning therein a record groove by means of a thermo-electric stylus, wherein the material,

removed in forming the groove is entirely 5. The herein described method of pro ducing a sound record which consistsof prearing a blank ofvolatile material and burning therein by means of a suitable thermal stylus, a record groove of substantially even .depth, hav1ng= lateral undulations corre sponding to sound waves, said groove. having been formed entirely by volatilization.

6. The herein described method of produc- I ing a sound record, which consists-of burn- I ing. an undulatory groove in the solid 'pyrographic, material composing a sound record blank, said groove having been formed ,entirely by volatilization.

I 7. The ducinga sound record, which consists of inscribing an undulatory groove in .a solid herein described methodof 'provolatilematerial by means of a diaphragm havin suflicient heat applied to said stylus to I isplace by volatilization the contents of the groove made thereby, wherein the material removed in forming said groove is displaced by volatilization.

' 8. Theherein described method of producing a sound record, which consists of inscribing an undulatory groove in a solid volatile material by meansof a diaphragm operated thermal stylus, having sufiicient heat ap- I pliedto said stylusjto displace entirely par tially by volatilization and partially bysublimation the contents of the grooves made thereby. I 1

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing wltnesses. I

VICTOR HUGO EMERSON.

Witnesses:

ANNA W. DILLMAN, EnrrH ENmssoN. 

